After West Ham United U18s ran riot at the Emirates Stadium to defeat Arsenal 5-1, with George Earthy, Callum Marshall, Gideon Kodua, Kaelan Casey and Josh Briggs all on the scoresheet, Kevin Keen was at the heart of the celebrations.
Hours of work at Chadwell Heath had paid off for the lead coach as the young Irons lifted the trophy - West Ham’s first FA Youth Cup triumph since 1999.
Keen always knew the quality this side have in their ranks and in north London, he was delighted to see the U18s more than show it...
I am so proud of them.
I’d take this group over any group and I said it to them before the game. They work so hard.
From the first day of pre-season, this group has been on it. It’s not just the talent it’s the working hard too. It’s the togetherness. Everything about this group. There is a lot of humility as well, which goes a long way. I'm really hopeful for all of them and they're all just great kids.
Arsenal are a good team and credit to them and the way they played.
There is a lot of the game where they've got possession and where the boys were working hard to make sure Arsenal didn't get into the box. Our defensive structure was very good. The goals were 'wow'!
I have to say our supporters; I think we have the best support in the country.
And to get 7,000 out there and to sing like that and be as passionate for Academy football: ‘Wow.’ It was one of the best nights of my life and I'm sure it's one of the best nights of our young players' lives.
We have got so many characters and they work so hard together.
They are a fantastic group that wants to do well for this football club. And hopefully like the Youth Cup winners from years gone by, we’ll have some of them get into our first team and have fantastic careers.
It means the world to me.
It’s been something like 23 seasons as a player and a coach for me, and you don’t win things that often. And to win it as we did.
I am gobsmacked. It’s absolutely stunning.
To win it like we did. Here. And in front of their family and friends. It front of my wife too. It is absolutely amazing.
